I have a few projects I'd like to get going in my Casita this winter.
I hesitate to walk around in there because it seems to me that when fiberglass is very cold it could be subject to fracturing or stress cracking if moved. I wouldn't heat it up to do the work, just walk in, measure as I needed to and complete my project in the garage. What are your thoughts on how walking around in my camper when she is so cold might affect her structurally?

Yeah i agree Shirley. Fiberglass in bitter cold would be a bit more fragile then a stick built trailer....but not much...just avoid using a sledgehammer on it lol. i lived for several years on a fiberglass sailboat here in nj and we do get single digit temps and snow and I never lost a boat during the winter....just from a hurricane lol.

Stress cracks do not happen from cold. They occur from impacts or from voids in the fiberglass layup and the repetitive flexing. A well made fiberglass hull or form will not crack unless there is a hard hitting impact. Even then it is easy to repair.

Thanks all for the info. I feel much better about going out to visit her every now and then and getting those projects started. I would love to post some pics of some of the things I've done to the Patriot (Olivia is her name) but I've not had any luck posting pics. Some of my mods are so out of the box...you would at the very least get a good laugh.

That is probably not worth repairing. It can be done or even improved with more height and windows. I could fix it. That sort of fiberglass job is simple for me compared to what I'm doing in the next few weeks. If something like this is being given away local to me I would take it it is pretty much worthless though. I'd rather build a whole new camper grime scratch on an aluminum boat trailer.

Most people would be better served to start with another intact camper.

These things are built very light so obviously there needs to be internal support. If it was cored properly even without internal support it would handle any snow load.

Yeah i agree Shirley. Fiberglass in bitter cold would be a bit more fragile then a stick built trailer....but not much...just avoid using a sledgehammer on it lol. i lived for several years on a fiberglass sailboat here in nj and we do get single digit temps and snow and I never lost a boat during the winter....just from a hurricane lol.

deryk

What sort of boat Derek? You are not yo far from me. I am in SW Connecticut.

Prior to hurracane sandy I had 27' Watkins motor sailor. Was my latest project lol. It got destroyed and decided it was time to do something different. Being single I wasn't exactly meeting folks while out on the water and mostly everyone at the marina was older and married. Camping on the other hand I tend to meet alot more folks, and most of my friends are in there late 20's to 30's.... opens up more possibilities lol

Prior to hurracane sandy I had 27' Watkins motor sailor. Was my latest project lol. It got destroyed and decided it was time to do something different. Being single I wasn't exactly meeting folks while out on the water and mostly everyone at the marina was older and married. Camping on the other hand I tend to meet alot more folks, and most of my friends are in there late 20's to 30's.... opens up more possibilities lol

LOL!
But seriously Deryk, I'm so sorry that you lost your boat in the hurricane. I've been through a lot of hurricanes and the recovery period takes years. Its so devastating for so many. At least if there's another, just hitch up the trailer and you're good to go. No public shelter or hotel necessary.